Apparatus for punching slat assemblies



Dec. 15, 1964 A. c. TAYLOR 3,151,221

APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING SLAT ASSEMBLIES Filed Oct. 25. 1961 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Ira 21 23 29 INVENTOR ATTORNEY$ Dec. 15, 1964 c, TAYLOR3,161,221

APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING SLAT ASSEMBLIES Filed Oct. 25. 1961 3Sheets-Sheet 2 g g A 50 $1 52 INVENTOR A real G/unJe; 721710 /dmuMJMvW/W ATTORNEYS Dec. 15, 1964 A. c. TAYLOR 3,161,221

APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING SLAT ASSEMBLIES Filed Oct. 25. 1961 3Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR A/{red Char/es 7 7 BY JWXY MWQZZM Y 771M 41ATTORNEYS United States Patent APPARATUS; FDR PUNQHENG SLAT ASSEMBLIESAifrerl (Zharles Taylor, Qlayiield, Brisbane, Queensland,

Australia, assignor to Hunter Douglas International (Quebec) Ltd,Montreal, Quebec, (Ianada Filed Get. 25, 1961, Sex. No. 147 ,621.(Ilaims priority, application Austraiia, Get. 28, 1969, 66,069 6Ciairns. (Cl. HE -lit) This invention relates to apparatus for punchingslat assemblies, and it has more particular reference to apparatus forpunching the rolled-edge joints of certain types of slat assemblieswhich are usable for awnings, screens, blinds, doors or the like.

it is well-known to provide an awning or the like in which a number ofnarrow metal slats are joined side by side in parallel relationship,each slat having each longitudinal edge rolled for hooked engagementwith an oppositely-rolled edge of the slat immediately adjacent oneither side to form hinged connections. To prevent adjacent slats fromsliding longitudinally relative to one another, it is customary to puncheach joint on the inner face of the assembly near to each end thereof,this operation having been done to date by manual punching or pinchingof each individual joint. It will therefore be appreciated thatconsiderable time, care and effort have been required for this purposeup to the present time, with resultantly high operational costs.

The present invention has been devised to simplify the procedure inpunching slat joints of this type, and it accordingly has for itsprincipal object the provision of apparatus of relatively simple andinexpensive construction which may be used with ease by even anunskilled operator to achieve rapid and accurate punching.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of theaforementioned type for punching slat joints, such apparatus lendingitself to semi-automatic operation in a most reliable and efiicientmanner. Other objects and advantages of the invention will behereinafter apparent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention residesbroadly in apparatus for punching rollededge joints of slot assemblies,including a punch-mounting frame adapted to be moved transversely acrossthe slat assembly and having an engagement member adapted to engagecontact portions of the slats; a punch mounted on the frame and adaptedto occupy a punching position adjacent a slat joint when the engagementmember is engaged with a contact portion of a slat, and means foractuating the punch when it is in a punching position so that theadjacent slat joint will be punched. Other features of the inventionwill become apparent from the following description.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put intopractical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one end of a table having fitted thereonslat-punching apparatus in accordance with the invention, the tablebeing shown partly broken away;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, also broken away, of the table, slat assembly andslat-punching apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of the inner side of the slat-punchingapparatus, with the punch thereof in inoperative attitude, and

FIG. 4 is a broken-away, outer side elevation of the slat-punchingapparatus, showing the punch in operative attitude.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown oneend of a fiat, rectangular table 10 mounted on legs 11 and supporting aslat assembly 12 of which the slat joints are to be punched. The end ofthe table it) which is shown is provided with slat-punching apparatus,as illustrated, while it is to be understood that the other end of thetable which is not shown also has thereon slat-punching apparatus whichis of identical but oppositvely-arranged construction.

The slat assembly 12 is of normal rectangular shape, being made up of aseries of parallel narrow metal slats 13 of arcuate cross-section, eachof which has its longitudinal edges oppositely rolled, each edge of aslat 13 being engaged hingedly with an oppositely-rolled edge of anadjacent slat to form a joint 14. As shown in FIG. 4, each slat 13 hasone edge 15 simply rolled in the direction of curvature of the body ofthe slat, but the other edge 16 is oppositely rolled adjacent alongitudinal shoulder of the slat, with the result that the joints 14protrude on that side of the assembly 12 on which the slats 13 havetheir centres of curvature. This is the inner side of the assembly,whereas the other or outer side of the assembly is that which isnormally arranged to face upwards in an assembled awning. As previouslymentioned, the joints 14 are to be punched on their inner faces, and theassembly 12 is therefore disposed on the table It so that the inner sidethereof faces upwards, the protruding joints 14 then also facingupwards.

At the end or transverse edge of the table 10, there is fixedly mountedan edge-mounting strip 17 lying fiat along the edge of the table andextending inwards for a short distance, while a vertical edge-retainingbar 18 is secured outwardly thereof so that the end of the slat assembly12 may lie on the strip 17 with the ends of the slats l3 retained on thetable and aligned by the edge retaining bar 18. Each end of theedge-mounting strip 17 extends beyond the table 10 and has securedthereto at right angles a horizontal, longitudinal andoutwardlyextending supporting bar 19 having at its outer end a mountingblock 2% for a transverse guide rod 21 arranged parallel to theedge-mounting strip 17 but spaced outwardly thereof and at a slightlyhigher level. It is to be understood that the word longitudinal" is usedherein relative to the direction of the length of the table It and slats13, while transverse has reference to the direction at right angles toor across the table 10 and slats l3.

Mounted for sliding movement along the guide rod 21 is a punch-mountingframe, indicated generally by the numeral 22. For this purpose, there isprovided a pivot sleeve 23 closely slidable along the guide rod 21 andpivotable thereabout, the sleeve 23 also passing through and welded toan upstanding longitudinal frame arm 24 which extends over theedge-mounting strip 17 but may be raised above the strip 17 and movedpivotally clear thereof outwardly of the end of the table 10 by pivotingthe sleeve 23 about the guide rod 21. In this regard, an upwardextension plate 25 0f the frame arm 24 is provided at one side,hereinafter referred to as the front side, with a Weighted block 26adapted to hold the frame arm 24 normally over the strip 17, but apivot-control rod 27 extends upwards from the block 26 and has an upperknob 28 so that the punch-mounting frame 22 may be pivoted asaforementioned about the guide rod 21. At the same time, a draw-controlrod 29 extends forwards from the frame arm 24 and has a front hand knob30 whereby p 3 v I V the frame arm 24 and punch-mounting frame 22 may bedrawn backwardsor forwards transversely with sliding movement of thepivot sleeve 23 along the guide rod 21.

Secured to the rear face of the extension plate 25 and extendingrearwards thereof is a mounting bracket -31 for a solenoid 32,.the'latter being supported thereon with its core 33 arranged in verticallyslidable manner. The upper end 34 of the solenoid core33 extends freelyabove the housing for the coil of the solenoid 32, while the lower end35 of the solenoid core '33 passes through an aperture in the solenoidmounting bracket 31 and is therefore free to move reciprocably past andparallel to the frame arm 24 directly above the edgemounting strip 17. Abar.36

through the lower end 35 of the solenoid core 33 has at each end a lighttension spring 37 extending vertically upwards and connected to arespective upper mountinghook' 38 secured to a top plate39 of the coilhousing of the a solenoid 32. Thus, the solenoid core 33 will normallybe maintained in the uppermost position shown in FIG. 3 by the action ofthe springs 37 except when the solenoid 32 is actuated as hereinafterdescribed.

To the rear face. of the frame arm 24 directly beneath the solenoid core33, there is secured a punch-mounting block 40 having therethrough avertical, round-section aperture 41 coaxial with the solenoid core 33,this aperture a slat joint 14. The upper end of the punch 42 extendsabove the top ofthe punch-mounting block 40 so that its upper extremitymay be struck by the descending solenoid I 'punch 42, while release ofthe button 64 will de-energise v 4 v v of the spring 59, the rear end ofthe trip-mounting block 52 will normally be in a raised attitude, whilethe front end of the trip rod 53 will bein its lowermost attitude, thetrip-mounting block 52 being urged by the spring 59 against a limitingstop lug 6t) on the punch-mounting block 49. The adjustable clearancescrew 50 of the yoke member 44 will be located in a recess 61 in theupper surface of the trip-mounting block 52 in rear of the pivot axis 5LThe punch-mounting block 40 also has at its rear end a mounting plate 62for a microswitch 63 arranged with its contact button 64 adjacent therear end of the trip rod 53 and inline therewith when the latter is inits afore- V mentioned normal attitude in which the front end is lower-most.' Standard electrical connections extend from the microswitch 63through a lead 65 to the contacts of the solenoid 32 in a contact box66, the latter, also having standard electrical connections (notshown)to a supply of mains electricity. Thus, depression of the contact button64 of the microswitch 63 will cause thetsolenoid 32 to be actuated tomove its core 33 downwards against the the solenoid 32, and the core 33will be returned to uppermost position'by the springs 37. The'microswitch 63 may be mounted adjustably by means of] screws in slottedholes in the plater62 so that its location and that of the button Thefree inner end 3 0 a slide shoe 67 secured adjustably as to height bymeans 64- relative to the rear end of the trip 'rod' 53 may beadjustably varied. 1 1 v of the frame'arm 24 is provided with of boltsin slotted holes through the frame arm 24 andan core 33, andit has fixedto its upper end a' yoke member] 44 disposedv at an angle to thepunch-mounting block 49, as illustrated.

The front end of ma ors member 44 has a vertical aperture 45 slidablyaccommodating a guide pin 46 secured to and extending upwards from thepunch-mounting block upward shoe-mounting arm 68. The slide shoe 67 hasa a non-abrasive lower contact surface adapted to ride across J the slatjoints 14 so that the latter may support the punch- 40, a compressionspring 47 about, the pin 46 and, between the yoke 44 and block 40 actingnormallyto maintaintheyoke 44 in uppermost position in which its rearportion engages under a washer 48 mounted adjustably as to height on alimiting pin 49 of the block 40. The rear extremity of the yoke 44 isvertically bored and tapped to accommodate .screW-threadedly anadjustable clearance screw 50 44 as previously mentioned.

On the inner side of the punch-mounting block 40, there t against theedge-retain ng bar 18. The rear edge of the is a horizontal pivot-pin 51providing a pivot axis for a trip-mounting block 52 arranged paraliel tothe block' -t) and adapted to be movedpivotally in a transverse plane. IThe lower section of the trip-mounting block 52 beneath the pivotpin51'hasna lengthwise bore housing a slidable trip rod 53 which extendsf'romeach end thereof, and the front end of the trip rod. 53 has fixedthereto an upwardly extending guide and stabilising lug 54. having anaperture through which may pass slidably a guide pin 55 secured-to onthe spring-mounting plate 56, while its front end is secured by a pin 58to the trip rod 53. In'this way, the

trip rod 53 will normally be urged in a forward direction to a foremostposition in which the guide and stabilising lug 54v-is spaced in frontof the front end of the trip-mounting block 52. 7 1

The pivot pin 51 is disposed towards the front endof the trip-mountingblock 52, and a front tension spring 59 connects the upper front portionof the block 52 to a forward position on the punch-mounting block 40. Byvirtue mounting frame 22Qd uring sliding movement. At the same time, atthe front of the frame arm '24 directly above the edge-retaining bar 18,there is aroller'69 adapted to enhaving its plain rolled edge 15 towardsthe front of the 'table and the other rolled edge 16 (adjacent the slatshoulder)" at the rear, the endsof the slats being align'ed rearmostslat is then hooked over a fixed hook strip 71 secured to the edgemounting strip 17, while'at spaced positions along the rear edge of thetable 10, the slat edge is similarly engaged with adjustably-p ositionedhook strips On the other hand, to grip the (front edge of the foremostslat or any other slat in front of the machine, the

guide rod 21 has a loose sleeve 73 with a catch bar' and knob75, ahook'76 thereof being engaged over and nto the rolled slat edge. Bypullingthe knob 75 forwards, the catchbar 74 may be drawn forwards tostretch the slat assembly to desired tautness ofthe joints, and when thebar 74 is then released, it will remain in'this stretched positionbecause the sleeve 73 is arranged to hag/e a lever-type, frictionalcatch action onv the guide ro 21; 7

f If the punch-mounting frame 22 is initially taken to its ,rearinostposition, the" roller 69'wil1ride on .the'ramp and will support theframe with the slide shoe 67 and trip rod 53 above theslat assemblyL Thepunch-mountframe-22may thenlbe drawn forwards by. the hand knob 30 ofthe draw-control rod 29 until'the trip rod 53 I and punch 42 pass thefirstor rearmost edge; whereupon the roller 69. Willhave moved oif'theramp '70, and the slide shoe 67 will be in contact withthe slat joints.The

front end of theutrip rod 53 will then be down against the slat and willcome in contact with the first protruding joint 14, this being theinitial or contact attitude of the trip rod 53, the punch 42 then beingslightly in rear of the same joint 14. Further forward movement of theknob 30 will cause the trip rod 53 to be depressed rearwards until itreaches an engaged attitude at which it depresses the contact button 64of the microswitch 63, and at which also the punch 42 will be directlyover the slat joint in a punching position. Thus, if the power is on,the solenoid 32 will be actuated to move the core 33 downwards to strikethe punch 42 so that the punchtip 43 will strike and punch the twoadjacent uppermost sheet metal rolled portions of the two slat edgesconstituting the joint 14.

As the punch 42 moves downwards, the attached yoke 44 and clearancescrew 50 also move down so that the clearance screw 50 will strike thetrip-mounting block 52 and cause its rear end to move down and its frontend up as it pivots about the pivot pin 51. Thus, the front end of thetrip rod 53 will be raised clear of the joint 14, whereupon the spring'7 will return it forwards to a position ahead of the joint, as shown inFIG. 4, while the rear end of the trip rod 53 will move clear of themicroswitch button 64, so that the solenoid 32 will be dc-energised andthe core 33 will return to uppermost position.

The punch 42 and yoke 44 will thus also return to uppermost position byvirtue of the spring 47, whereupon the clearance screw 50 will also beuppermost, and the spring 59 may return the trip-mounting block 52 toengage the stop lug 60. The trip rod 53 will then be again in line withthe contact button 64, with its front end lowermost ready for contactwith the next joint. This sequence of operations will be repeated as theapparatus is drawn forwards across the slats of the slat assembly, eachjoint being punched as the trip rod 53 comes to engaged attitude. As thepunch-tip 43 is located at a short distance from the edge-retaining bar18, the series of punched depressions or perforations in the slat jointswill lie in a straight line which is spaced from and parallel to theedges of the slats. The slat assembly 12 may then have the opposite endsof the slats punched in the same manner by the identical butoppositely-arranged apparatus at that end of the table, the direction ofmovement of the apparatus for the punching operations being the same.

If desired, slat assemblies punched in this manner may also be providedwith locking rivets of the type described 111 our Australian patentapplication No. 44,244/58, so that a double locking action will beachieved, and also added attractiveness will be given to the ends of thejoints.

While apparatus as described and illustrated will therefore be foundvery effective in achieving the objects for which the invention has beendevised, it will of course be understood that this particular exemplaryembodiment of the inventionis illustrative only and may be subject tomany modifications of constructional detail and design. The inventionwill be understood to embrace all modifications and variations as liewithin its scope and ambit, as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for punching rolled-edge joints of slat assemblies,including a table adapted to support a slat assembly, said table beingprovided with an edge-retaining bar and an edge-retaining means inparallelism across the table and adapted to retain the slats thereonwith their ends in alignment; a guide rod, a punch-mounting framemounted for sliding movement across the table on the guide rod in suchmanner that the frame may be moved transversely across the slats at ornear to the end of the assembly; an engagement member associated withthe frame and adapted to engage successive contact portions of theslats; a punch mounted on the frame above the slats and adapted to bemoved downwards on to the latter, the punch occupying a punchingposition above a slat joint when the engagement member is engaged with acontact portion of a slat; and means for actuating the punch when it isin a punching position to cause it to move downwards to punch the slatjoint therebeneath.

2. Apparatus for punching rolled-edge joints of slat assembliesaccording to claim 1, wherein the guide rod is spaced from the punch ofthe punch-mounting frame, the latter having a pivot sleeve fittedslidably and pivotally on the guide rod so that the frame may be movedslidably along the guide rod or pivotally raised about the axis of theguide rod and sleeve to raise the punch clear of the slat assembly, saidpunch-mounting frame being provided with a slide shoe adjacent the punchand adapted to bear slidably against the slat assembly when the frame ismoved slidably in its pivotally lowered attitude.

3. Apparatus for punching rolled-edge joints of slat assembliesaccording to claim 1, wherein there are provided means for securing theslat assembly on the table in a stretched condition, said meanscomprising fixed hook members at one side of the table adapted to beengaged with the free rolled edge of the end slat of the assembly atthat side, and adjustable hook means at the other side of the tableadapted to be engaged with a slat on that side and to be secured in adesired position to tension the assembly, said adjustable hook meansbeing mounted for sliding movement on the guide rod.

4. Apparatus for punching rolled-edge joints of slat assemblies,including a table adapted to support a slat assembly, said table beingprovided with an edge-retaining bar and edge-retaining means inparallelism across the table and adapted to retain the slats thereonwith their ends in alignment; a guide rod, a punch-mounting framemounted for sliding movement across the table on the guide rod in suchmanner that the frame may be moved transversely across the slats at ornear to the end of the assembly; an engagement member associated withthe frame and adapted to engage successive contact portions of theslats; a punch mounted on the frame above the slats and adapted to bemoved downwards on to the latter, the punch occupying a punchingposition above a slat joint when the engagement member is engaged with acontact portion of a slat; and means for actuating the punch when it isin a punching position to cause it to move downwards to punch the slatjoint therebeneath, the guide rod being spaced from the punch of thepunch-mounting frame, the latter having a pivot sleeve fitted slidablyand pivotally on the guide rod so that the frame may be moved slidablyalong the guide rod or pivotally raised about the axis of the guide rodand sleeve to raise the punch clear of the slat assembly, saidpunchmounting frame being provided with a slide shoe adjacent the punchand adapted to bear slidably against the slat assembly when the frame ismoved slidably in its pivotally lowered attitude; wherein the means foractuatmg the punch includes a punch-actuating member consisting of asolenoid device having its core arranged to strike the punch to move itagainst the slat joint when the punch is in a punching position andconnector means comprising electrical switch means associated with theengagement member and electrically connected to the solenoid, the switchmeans acting to actuate the solenoid to operate the punch each time theengagement member is engaged with a contact portion of a slat; theengagement member being a trip member normally urged towards the slatassembly.

5. Apparatus for punching rolled-edge joints of slat assembliesaccording to claim 4, wherein the trip member is pivotally mounted andalso spring-loaded for sliding movement relative to the frame and punchbetween an initial contact position in which it may make contact with aslat joint and an engaged position in which the punch s in its punchingposition, operation of the punch when it is in this position acting toclear the trip member pivotally from the slat joint in a direction awayfrom the slat assembly and joints so that the trip member may returnslidably under the action of its spring-loading to its initial 7References Cited by the Examiner position ready for contact with anotherslat j oint. it s UNITED STATES PATENTS 6. Apparatus for-punchmgrolled-edge oints Q1 slat assemblies according to claim 4, wherein thetrip member 211701609 3 Nedal is space d from: the switch mea'risin its'ipitial position but 5 5 N H W111 move shdably nto contact therewith111 its Sflld en- 702 443 1/54 a G tB gaged position so that thesolenoid wiilbe actuated to rea H operate the punch, thelatterrthen'ac'ting to clear the tnip I l Y a I member piyotall'y' fromthe switch means .to 'de-energiz'e MICHAEL R N P i Examiner thesolenoid. 10 CHARLES W. LANHAM,'Examinr.

1. APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING ROLLED-EDGE JOINTS OF SLAT ASSEMBLIES,INCLUDING A TABLE ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A SLAT ASSEMBLY, SAID TABLE BEINGPROVIDED WITH AN EDGE-RETAINING BAR AND AN EDGE-RETAINING MEANS INPARALLELISM ACROSS THE TABLE AND ADAPTED TO RETAIN THE SLATS THEREONWITH THEIR ENDS IN ALIGNMENT; A GUIDE ROD, A PUNCH-MOUNTING FRAMEMOUNTED FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT ACROSS THE TABLE ON THE GUIDE ROD IN SUCHMANNER THAT THE FRAME MAY BE MOVED TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE SLATS AT ORNEAR TO THE END OF THE ASSEMBLY; AN ENGAGEMENT MEMBER ASSOCIATED WITHTHE FRAME AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SUCCESSIVE CONTACT PORTIONS OF THESLATS; A PUNCH MOUNTED ON THE FRAME ABOVE THE SLATS AND ADAPTED TO BEMOVED DOWNWARDS ON TO THE LATTER, THE PUNCH OCCUPYING A PUNCHINGPOSITION ABOVE A SLAT JOINT WHEN THE ENGAGEMENT MEMBER IS ENGAGED WITH ACONTACT PORTION OF A SLAT; AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE PUNCH WHEN IT ISIN A PUNCHING POSITION TO CAUSE IT TO MOVE DOWNWARDS TO PUNCH THE SLATJOINT THEREBENEATH.